Every year, UMD staff and students organize a homecoming theme, as well as events that are scheduled throughout a designated week in early fall. The 2011 theme, "This is Bulldog Country," will be seen campus-wide and throughout Duluth.

This year's highlight is a homecoming pep rally that will take place in downtown Duluth on Tuesday, October 18 beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Holiday Center at 207 West Superior Street. The public is welcome to attend the pep rally, as well as the weeklong events.

"We are thrilled with the initiative of Chancellor Black to connect UMD more closely with our downtown community," said Karen Stromme, assistant director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "We have amazing students at UMD, and want them to share their positive energy with the community. Great things happen when we all work together. The homecoming pep rally is another step in our quest to reach out to our regional businesses and community members. We hope local businesses will enjoy the event and believe that downtown Duluth is Bulldog country."

The homecoming schedule begins on Friday, October 14 and ends on Saturday, October 22.

"We're at a tipping point in Duluth," said Lacey Solheid, the student traditions manager of UMD. "Things are changing on campus, and we're really going in a new and different direction. I think it's going to be good for the school and the community to try and change how we think of ourselves, becoming more involved as a whole."

Other major events for the week include a hot dog eating contest ("dogs eat dogs") during a pep rally at 6 p.m. in Malosky Stadium, on October 20; a 50th alumni reunion; 5k-trail run; cardboard boat races; and, the homecoming football game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2011. For a complete schedule of events, see Homecoming 2011